Apparatus for applying reinforcement bottoms to plastic bottles

Abstract

An apparatus for installing reinforcing bottom cups on blow molded plastic containers includes a transfer arm which grasps the outer peripheries of a plurality of molded hollow containers, such as bottles, by suction means, transfers the thus held bottles to a first station at which previously adhesively coated bottom cups are pushed upwardly on to the bottoms of the containers, from which station the thus reinforced bottomed containers are sequentially discharged.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for applying bottom cups to blow molded, hollow plastic containers having injection molded necks comprising means for transferring a plurality of the containers substantially simultaneously from a molding device to a first station, said means for transferring including suction means for individually engaging the exterior or each container and holding each container in a predetermined orientation at said first station,   means for applying adhesive to bottom cups and means for feeding a plurality of said cups to said first station with each cup aligned with a container so as to receive the bottom of a container therein,   means for moving a plurality of the aligned cups toward the bottoms of the containers and to press a respective cup against a respective bottom of a container, and means for supplying a gas under pressure to the interior of each container while the cups are being pressed against the container bottoms,   said means for transferring being operative to then release the containers whereby the containers are transferred to said means for feeding which operates to discharge the containers from said apparatus.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for transferring includes a support arm having, at one end, said suction means, said suction means including a plurality of surfaces shaped to complementarily engage the surfaces of the containers including at least one-half of the profile of each container. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further including a thermally insulated enclosure surrounding the distance traversed by said means for transferring between the molding device and said first station. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said apparatus includes positioning means upstream of said means for feeding a plurality of said cups to said first station, said positioning means including a conveyor member for delivering bottom cups to said feeding means, said feeding means including a strip having a plurality of semi-circular concavities shaped to complementarily fit the outer periphery of the bottom cups, said feeding means including means for moving said strip sequentially in a triangular pattern so as to move from said conveyor portion to said first station and then to a discharge position. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein centering means are provided for the bottom cups in said first station, said centering means including a plurality of concave housings, one for each bottom cup at said first station, said concave housings each being shaped to closely conform to the outer configuration of the bottom cups.